GOP Debate Open Thread

Mike Huckabee stood out like he was standing five feet higher and forward than the rest of the GOP candidates. He seemed less antagonistic than the rest of the religious right candidates. Duncan Hunter's response that the military is a Judeo-Christian institution is just plain insulting to any non-Christian, non-Jewish, and/or liberal thinking soldier, plus I don't think that's what Colin Powell meant, but nice job hiding behind one of the few popular Republicans nowadays. I would normally say he should apologize, but there is too much calling for politicians to apologize. Politicians need to stand by their comments and people need to either not vote for them or deal with it. Mitt Romney's response to the question was even more stupid.

The two candidates who stood out were Huckabee and McCain who seemed to reclaim his maverick streak when talking about torture and the fair tax.

The one thing that surprised me was the audience's response to the retired gay general; the booing. It's embarassing. It reminded me a little of the 2002 Georgia Senate race, when instead of respectfully disagreeing with a man who lost half his body in Vietnam, they labelled him a traitor and dragged him through the mud. That seems to be the GOP way nowadays, standing behind the soliders when it's convienent, but if they disagree with us, throw them off a cliff.

Nice

Romney Wins Iowa Poll

Helps when the top three frontrunners choose not to take part.

Romney won decisively, followed by Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul.

Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson finished a disappointing sixth, followed by no-shows Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani. Even Duncan Hunter beat John McCain.

The Reagan Wannabes

At one time he carried 49 of the 50 states, including Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and California, states Republicans only fantasize about carrying these days. He won nearly 60% of the popular vote and helped create a coalition of the opposition party who voted for him.

He's Ronald Reagan and to prove their desperation, the Republicans went to debate near his final resting place; in hopes to relive a time when the Republican Party was widely respected by the entire nation. The key words in last night's Republican debate were "Ronald Reagan" and "9/11"

19 times the name of Ronald Reagan was uttered by the candidates.

Sadly, none of them are anything like Ronald Reagan. The spirit of the kindhearted, sensible, tough, sly, friendly, conservative President who won the hearts of Americans for most of his term wasn't in any of these men.

The Republican image Reagan worked so hard to create and successfully sold to Americans has been dismantled.